The story continues! This chapter takes place at about the same time as when Spyro starts playing tag with Sparx in the swamp, so it's several years after the prologue. In 'dragon years', I'm guessing that Spryo would be somewhere around nine to twelve years old. Does anyone know for sure?

Response to Reviewers:

searing light dragon – Thanks very much! I do hope that it will be good…

lorephunk – Thanks again. :) I try to make all my OCs as believable as possible (except in Truth or Dare where I try to make them all ridiculous in some way or another).

Spyro-Fanatic: Wow… thank you! That's the first time anyone has ever said that about my stories!

........... (anonymous): No, Faust and Fabius's names do not come from OOTS, but that's a good guess.

Pleneko: Cynder's title is "Queen of the Conquerors?" I'll need to find some way to use that in future chapters; it sounds really cool. xD I know that everyone was supposed to die if they tried to enter the prison, but I liked the idea of personal contact with Malefor. As a final note, you are quite right about Faust's name… it's also a little character clue, no? (hands you cream-cheese-and-pea yogurt)

ChristianDragon: Thanks! (hug)

And now Fabius returns in his cute apelike glory! :D

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A Chat with Uncle

Cynder quietly paced through the tall chambers of her castle. Several years had passed since she was hatched in the dark rooms of Malefor's lair, but she was already in her adult form. Lean and dangerous with her glinting horns, massive wings, and whip-like tail with a curved scythe, she certainly looked the part.

The dragoness, who was now enormous, slithered up the steps which headed to her chambers. A pair of conduits guarding her room immediately stepped away when they saw Cynder approaching. The black dragon stood on her hind legs and pushed the door open. Without a word she stalked into her room and slammed the door shut with her tail.

Cynder's room was rather plain. A large black bed with red blankets and pillows was in a far corner. A small stand with a mirror was littered with some of Cynder's excess accessories which she liked to wear depending on her mood. A clear door was opposite her bed, leading to a balcony where she could view all of the Concurrent Skies when she wanted.

Cynder turned her dark green eyes to find a medium-sized ape making her bed for her. "Hello, Father!" Cynder greeted.

Fabius turned around and smiled when he saw Cynder. "Hey, Cynder! How are things going?"

"Well," Cynder began as she curled up on the floor. "Gaul granted me more of his men to position in the Munitions Forge, which is a good thing because some of his soldiers think pushing each other into lava is some sort of sport."

At that, Fabius laughed. "Ahh, those were the days!" he exclaimed. "Do continue, Cynder."

"Uncle Malefor was very impressed with me when I caught the Earth Guardian the other day; he was called Rockwhatsit, or something."

"Terrador."

"Yes, that's it!" Cynder shouted triumphantly. "Terrador, right. I managed to squeeze a complement out of Malefor when he saw Terrador in the draining sphere." The dragoness nudged her father in for a hug.

"Did you, now?" Fabius chuckled as he embraced Cynder back. "I'm so proud of you, my daughter."

For a moment they cuddled. Cynder eventually let go of the ape and asked, "Father, how well do you think I'm doing? Will Uncle really someday be the ruler of the whole world?"

Fabius smiled sweetly and replied, "I'm sure that if you help him, he will be very proud. I know I am."

"Part of me feels a little strange doing Uncle's bidding…" Cynder whispered.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Cynder," Fabius replied, placing a hairy hand on Cynder's shoulder. "The Dar—erm, I mean your uncle's going to be really grateful if you help him through this. If you free him from his prison, I'm sure that you will get your just reward."

Cynder looked to the distance, her green eyes lost somewhere out the window and into the Concurrent Skies. "But Dad, I still don't feel quite right when I'm put to these tasks."

Fabius shushed her and grunted soothingly, "It's all right. This is only for the best."

The black dragoness, looking a little insecure, sat down again and gave Fabius a long hug, nearly cradling him in her arms. The ape, a little surprised at the contact, suddenly began to chuckle.

"What?" Cynder grinned.

"Oh, I just remembered a time when I was the one to hold you in my arms, not the other way around!" He laughed, his eyes flooding with memories. Fabius hugged Cynder back, breathing slowly next to her warm underbelly. Since the day he had taken her in, she had grown from a little bigger than his head to three times his size. To Fabius, it felt like no time had passed at all.

Cynder nudged him gently with her large snout. "Dad…" she purred playfully as Fabius began to scratch her belly reassuringly.

At that rather awkward moment, the door opened and a tall ape with horrible scars entered the room. Cynder quickly rolled to her feet and sat down, trying her best to look commanding. Fabius, who was knocked to the floor with the sudden movement, rolled clumsily on his back.

"Get up, Fabius!" the ape commanded, kicking Cynder's foster father in the rear.

"Hey!" Cynder barked, baring her shimmering white teeth. "That's my dad you just kicked! What is it you want, Faust?"

Faust stood up tall, looking completely unremorseful at Cynder's comment. He reported, "Lord Malefor would like to speak with you. He says to come to his lair immediately."

Cynder's green eyes narrowed. "Does he now? Why?"

"He said it was of high priority, my Queen."

Something about that sentence sent a small chill down Cynder's spine. What does Uncle want with me? she pondered. Cynder figured that refusing him wouldn't do any good. Spreading her enormous wings, she commanded, "You two, open the doors!"

Faust and Fabius ran to the glass double-doors and opened them wide. The balcony from Cynder's room was a long one; perfect for leaping off of in flight. Dashing in a running start, the black dragon charged through the opening and flew off the terrace.

"Travel safely!" Fabius called as Cynder soared into the flashing skies. Cynder, a little out of breath from her running, decided not to respond. With an immense beat of her wings, she flew over the gates of her palace into the treacherous thunderstorm which always illuminated the Concurrent Skies.

Cynder swerved past the sparkling blue shards, nearly decapitating a wandering crystal brute with her tail. Soaring faster and faster with every breath she took, Cynder eventually trembled at her speed and was flung in a portal between two sparking crystal which lead into Convexity.

Once she was in the realm, Cynder didn't need to travel far. Letting some loose stones fall into the abyss of Convexity, she landed on the floating rock with the door to Malefor's lair letting out an unearthly light to the surrounding rocks. Taking a deep breath to muffle the shock, Cynder tingled as she stepped into the portal which led to the Dark Master's lair.

The moment the black dragoness entered the room in which Malefor was trapped, the purple dragon growled, "You are late, Cynder."

"Many apologies, master," Cynder replied as she bowed down.

The Dark Master turned around and hissed, "You have done well in capturing the guardians of thunder, ice, and earth. But even in all your success, one crucial link has managed to escape our grasp for far too long…." Malefor growled in anger, and roared, "Ignitus, the Fire Guardian!"

"What do you want me to do, master?" Cynder replied placidly, letting none of her uncertainty escape in her expression.

"I bring news to you from Gaul, who sent one of his patrols to the swamp. Only one of his men made it back alive. The survivor claims that he and his friends were attacked by a large fire dragon. I know that they have stumbled upon Ignitus's hiding place.

"Your job, Cynder, is to go there and see if you can find him yourself. Gaul offers to send extra soldiers there as well, but that is your call."

Cynder nodded, "If you would be so kind as to let Gaul know that some new soldiers stationed in the swamp would be wonderful, I would be very grateful."

"Very well," Malefor rumbled. "Now move along and find Ignitus for me."

"Yes, master." Cynder solemnly replied. For some reason, her stomach was in a knot.

Malefor turned around and stalked to a corner of his chamber. Cynder took that as her cue to leave. With a shake of her tail, she stalked out the door and into the void of Convexity.

Cynder looked quickly at the gateway, flapped her wings, and soared into the realms which lay beyond.

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EDIT: Writing tutor helped me find a couple errors. It flows smoother now.

I typed this in a little over half an hour.

Here's more filler material for my T&D. This one was shorter and probably less amusing (if at all) than the last chapter, but I needed one of these in place for me to make a hopefully humorous chapter next time.

Pleneko was quite correct in guessing Faust's name, but can any of you pinpoint where Fabius comes from? And no using Google, because that's cheating. ;D